Apparatus for processing a liquid



Jan. 2, 1962 o. MONTZ ETAL 3,015,340

' APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A LIQUID Filed April 21, 1960 United States atent 7 3,015,340 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A LIQUID Otto Montz and Hans Joachim Kloss, Hilden, Rhinelaud,

Germany, assignors to Julius Moritz, Hiiden, Rhineland, Germany Filed Apr. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 23,858 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 22, 1959 7 Claims. (Cl. 137-124) This invention relates to devices for processing liquids. More particularly the invention relates to devicesfor uniformly discharging fluids from the bottom of a column of the rectifyingtype.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus whereby there is achieved a very fine distribution of liquid.

it is a further object of the invention to enhance the separating efiect and load capacity of rectifying columns which depend substantially upon the fineness of the distribution of fluid therefrom.

The type of distributor device most commonly employed in rectifying columns in accordance with prior art consists of a flat trough on the bottom of which liquid is collected and which is provided with one or more overflow eirs, the top edges of which are provided with upwardly Widening notches. These notches subdivide the overflowing liquid into partial streams, whose flow cross sections decrease as the charging of the liquid decreases.

This type of distributor device operates only if the amount of liquid accumulated on the bottom of the trough is such that the surface of the liquid reaches the lowest level of the notches. if the liquid surface lies below the lowest level of the notches the overflow is interrupted and is initiated again only when sufficient liquid has been accumulated.

However, in some cases it is desirable to obtain a very fine distribution which is uniform as to time and amount of relatively small amounts of accumulated liquid. This is especially true of vacuum-type rectifiers which must operate regularly with very small amounts of liquid in proportion to the cross section of the rectifying column.

The invention permits of a uniform and fine distribution of liquids without being limited by the level thereof. It therefore provides for a proper uniform and fine distribution of even the smallest amounts of liquid.

Distributor devices provided in accordance with the invention do not have the disadvantage of overflow types which respond only to certain dynamic pressures and liquid levels, which is a type of response which is not uniform because of the tolerances with which the weirs are manufactured.

Devices provided in accordance with the invention do not operate by means of an overflow of an accumulation of liquid, but operate instead even if the liquid to be distributed is at a level below that required for conventional overflow. These devices, therefore, operate continuously as long as any liquid is available for distribution.

According to the invention improvement is provided for by the use of capillary action. More particularly this capillary action is provided for by operatively associating with a weir a group of juxtaposed wires or the like which embrace and overhang the weir and define capillaries therewith to induce a flow of liquid over the weir by means of capillary action.

Other objects as well as advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a bottom of a rectification column as provided in accordance with a preferred embodimerit of the invention;

Patented Jan. 2., 1962 FIG. Zis a sectional view taken along line of II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a weir provided with a capillary member in accordance with the invention;

PEG. 4 is a side view of the Weir and capillarymember of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective view a capillary element provided in accordance with the invention.

The device provided in accordance with the invention and illustrated in the drawing comprises a bottom member or trough 1, especially adapted for use in a rectification column. in the bottom of the trough is provided a plurality of tubular members or weirs 2. These weirs extend upwardly from the bottom member 1, as well as downwardly therefrom. Their upper edges determine the level to which a liquid may 'be accumulated in the bottom member 1 before the liquid starts to overflow and moves downwardly and outwardly through the openings defined by said tubular members.

clamped on the periphery of each tubular element 2 is a capillary element 3 formed of wire, the shape of which can be most readily determined in FIG. 5.

The capillary element can be formed of a plastic or of a suitable metal which is bent back and forth in a hairpinlilre structure three times. The element is formed such that the middle bend on one side of the element is longer than the adjacent outer ends 312. On the other side of the element are two legs 30 and 3d which are of greater length than the legs on the one side of the element.

The capillary element straddles the associated weir and overhangs the same. Preferably the longer portions 30 and 3d are provided on the inside of the tubular member 2 and the shorter legs are positioned on the outer side as clearly illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The closely juxtaposed wires or rods of the capillary elements 3 form with each other and with respect to the surface of the associated tubular member capillaries which induce a flow of fluid over the associated weir despite the fact that the level of the fluid dammed by the weir is not at a level whereby conventional overflow is effected.

The dimensions of bottom 1, tubular elements 2 and elements 3 may vary within wide limits in accordance with the prevailing conditions. For example, the tubular pieces may have a diameter of 15 mm. and a length of 25 mm. projecting upwardly from the bottom 1 by about 15 The bottom 1 may, for example, be provided with a single rectilinear weir which is equipped with elements as required by circumstances which enable, by capillary action, the lifting of accumulated liquid over the weir.

The amount or" liquid conveyed by capillary action will be increased as the liquid level on the bottom member increases. "Fne overflowing of the liquid therefore is automatically adjusted corresponding to the amount of fluid accumulated on the bottom.

Since the top edges of the weirs are located in a horizontal plane, the overflow quantity for each tubular element is the same, provided that elements having the same capillary action are provided for each tube.

The conveying effect can be increased by putting into the tubular elements a plurality of capillary elements such as has been noted above.

The capillary element of the invention can be used in association with weirs, the top edges of which are not precisely horizontal. As a matter of fact these capillary elements can be provided for weirs, the top edges of which are formed with notches.

The wires dipping into the liquid may be of varying sizes which permit varying the discharge effect which is achieved.

It will be evident fi'om what has been stated above that devices and methods of the invention are concerned with the discharging of a liquid from the bottom of a column 3 or the like, by means of inducing liquid conveyance due to capillary action.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications and variations of the apparatus and method set forth above. These modifications and variations will not, however, depart from the scope of the invention if they lie within the definition of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for use in a column comprising a substantially horizontal flat tray, said tray having a plurality of openings, a wall surrounding each opening and extending upwardly from said tray, said walls having top edges determining a plane, a capillary member comprising a plurality of wires of U-shape straddling each of said walls, said wires being juxtaposed to define capillary passages therebetween, said capillary passages having a uniform cross section over the length thereof.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the juxtaposed wires and wall define capillary passages therebetween.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capillary member is constituted by a continuous wire.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wall is a tube-like element encircling said opening.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least two capillary members on atleast one of the walls.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capillary members each include legs of different lengths straddling the Walls, the longer of the legs being positioned inside the walls.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said capillary members comprise a plurality of adjacent U-shaped sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 884,372 Eggleston Apr. 14, 1908 889,141 Leuthesser May 26, 1908 2,256,362 Stuart Sept. 16-, 1941 Chadwick Feb. 25, 1947 

